The celebrated stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli's 2001 animated film, Spirited Away: Live on Stage, is set to embark on a world tour with confirmed stops in Los Angeles and Toronto for 2027. The production, which first debuted in Tokyo in 2022 and played in London in 2024, will extend its run from December 2026 through July 2028, including dates in Taiwan, Japan, North America, and a return to London.
Specific North American dates include the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto from May to August 2027, followed by the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from September to October 2027. The play is performed in Japanese and features English surtitles.
This intricate production boasts complex puppetry, a cast of 50 actors, and a live rendition of Joe Hisaishi's original score. The creative team includes director John Caird, script adaptation by Mako Imai, musical arrangement by Brad Haak, set design by Jon Bausor, puppet design by Toby Olié, choreography by Shigehiro Ide, and costumes by Sachiko Nakahara. The official synopsis describes the story of Chihiro, who, while moving with her family, enters a world of spirits ruled by the sorceress Yubaba. Her parents are transformed into pigs, and Chihiro must work in a magical bathhouse to find a way to rescue them and return to the human world.
For those unable to attend the live performances, a filmed version of the stage play is available. It was previously released in North American theaters in April 2023 and is also accessible on Blu-ray, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
The announcement precedes the 25th anniversary of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away film on July 20. The original movie is widely recognized as a landmark in animation, significantly boosting the global recognition of Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki and demonstrating animation's capacity for mature storytelling appealing to both children and adults.